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We loved every single thing we ate here! Our server was so sweet and attentive. We got to meet the owner, Leo, who was very warm and even gave our group recommendations to local spots. Great food, great service!
Margarita regular is sublime, amazin (New Yawk what?!) and possibly the best (better than mine), the Coconut Margarita is fantastic, but the pina colada virgin was as good as I ever had....until, I had another one, this time with rum for dessert!!! Apps: The chiveche or seafood salad is amazing, also among the beat evwr. Beef empanada is as good as it gets, on its own, the shrimp empanada is very good, the sauses are good, too,..wish they had the green sauce from Mama's in NYC...maybe not PR style... Main: holy crap... just have the full red snapper no matter what. Incroyable! Didnt love the churrasco, but, hey, "nobody's perfect."- see Some Like It Hot with Marilyn, if you don't get that reference. Love this place for the value. Love the food, drinks and staff! All of that makes up for the crazy, back-alley ambience, or maybe makes that lowered the bar a bit or made it more aproachable in price.
Great food, made fresh and fast. Service was so friendly. We sat outside as the rain poured down- it was great.
This is the best place we ate at in Puerto Rico. If you like seafood at all this is the spot to dine at! Usually it's hard for me to choose what to eat at a restaurant with a very large menu, this menu isn't that large however I still struggled because pretty much every single item sounded delicious. I think you can't go wrong. The staff is incredibly nice, our kids were being pretty rambunctious and they still made us feel welcome and a lot more comfortable eating there. Cant recommend enough!
Our first stop after we got to Puerto Rico and man, this was the best meal we had in Puerto Rico! This place is a must try! Their piñata colada was the best one we had. The fresh red snapper was so freaking good and so worth it! Highly recommend to get both of these dishes! The octopus salad had the right amount of acidity and it was a nice palate cleaner after eating the fried food. The calamari was delicious and you can taste rhe calamari! It wasn't chewy and tender! The mangfango ball was delicious. The fried cod, my god was the best cod I've ever had in my life. I've tried cod many times and had officially written it off as dense and dry. I wasn't not a fan of cod but after trying this cod, I am a super fan. It was soft and delicate. Juicy and not dry. Flaky and seasoned to perfection. The sauce that was topped on it made it a craveable bite that makes one not want to stop. It's so good! Just writing this review makes my mouth watery because this meal was 10/5! We talked to the staff and everything is caught fresh locally. Nothing was fishy and everything tasted really good! The shrimp my goodness we fought for the last bite hahaha The red snapper was crispy and so good with the garlic sauce! The red snapper was so good it converted a non eater of whole fish into a whole fish eater aka my significant other. I was so proud! The only thing I would say is red snapper was over fried a bit because some parts of the fish meat were a little dry but if you dip it in the sauce it was good. Red snapper is 1-1.5 lbs and about $40-$50 dollars ours was $45 : 5/5 Seafood platter : $36.95 octopus shrimp salad, fried calamari, fried cod, mangfango balls 5/5 Pina colada $10 5/5 the rum was hidden and pretty tasty! Best one I had! Rum punch $13 3/5 Do I recommend this place? Yes! It is pricey for both dish but it's well worth it! This is coming from a gal that was born and raise in the coast of TX with shrimping/oyster/fishing boats and ate seafood 24/7. This seafood is fresh and a must try when you are in Puerto Rico! It's relaxing and chill. Once you find parking then you can kick back and relax! Service is too notch and staff is super friendly!
Just left and had to write a review immediately! I love to try new places that offer whole snapper fish fries and this restaurant was just so good. It's in a group of small local restaurants with music playing from a bar next door (which was a nice vibe). The staff were wonderful, but the owner Leo was just exceptional. My daughter is celiac and he made sure to go cook her food for her and made her feel very comfortable eating there. Everything is scratch so you can eliminate items as needed. If you like rice and beans, this is the best I've had on the island and I've been many times. Go check this restaurant out.
I don't leave many 5 star reviews but this spot is top notch. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's a power play in the food scene. The customer service is friendly and great and the food was awesome. We did the Whole Red Snapper, the Skirt Steak, and Can Can Pork chop and washed t all down with some Coconut Margaritas. The food is delicious, all meticulously and carefully prepared and presented beautifully. This is definitely a must do when in the PR.
I have been coming here for years, and I can't say I've had a bad meal or service...ever! Freshest seafood in and around San Juan and the price is right for the amount of food you get! The restaurant is clean and updated, with cold AC! Great place to go and you won't be disappointed!
We had a wonderful evening at Nuevo Acquario, made so special by the owner, Leonardo's. The fish was super fresh and the beans and rice best ever! You won't go wrong here.
Superb! Superb! Superb! I cannot say enough about this place. The food and service both were top notch! I had a full snapper that I couldn't finish and couldn't stop myself from eating lol. Plenty of seating!
Very friendly and attentive staff. Excellent food. They have both indoor and outdoor dining area. Highly recommend!
We had the seafood platter and the grouper. Portions are HUGE for the seafood platter - enough for two (full meal). Grouper was absolutely delicious (even though I'm not really a seafood person). I didn't try the platter but my wife was wolfing down the shrimp ceviche. Ambience inside is pretty plain (neat and clean though). Parking is VERY hard especially on a weekend. Be prepared to hunt for a spot. We came during a party right next door which seemed to slow down service just a bit.
This restaurant is a must....highly recommend! Excellent menu (loved everything we tried) from seafood to steak, delicious drinks and I can't say enough about the service---their goal is for every customer to leave with a smile!
9 hours ago
Weeks later, I'm still dreaming about the Labor Day pulpo special at El Nuevo Acuario. It was the best octopus I've ever had, served with crispy tostones and a guava vinaigrette salad that made the whole plate unforgettable. The attention and service were top notch, and the meal was absolutely worth the visit. The pulpo isn't on the regular menu, but we were told we could call two days ahead to request it. I know I will! And yes the vibe is a vibe also they have a beautiful indoor AC room with wifi for the entourage read more
26 days ago
El Nuevo Acuario is one of the best places for Puerto Rican food on the island. I recently visited with friends for dinner and started with an appetizer of Pastelillos with Ground Beef. These are essentially empanadas with a lightly crisp doughy shell filled with a creamy mixture of flavorful seasoned ground beef. For my entrée I had the El Chillo with Mofongo. This whole red snapper was meaty, tender and filling with a nice garlicy flavor. The side of Mofongo was perfect: soft, savory, with a nice garlickiness and a slight crunch from the small mixed in chicharron pieces. Overall, El Nuevo Acuario is a must visit. read more
9 days ago
We loved every single thing we ate here! Our server was so sweet and attentive. We got to meet the owner, Leo, who was very warm and even gave our group recommendations to local spots. Great food, great service! read more
Business owner information
Leonardo B.
Thank you for your visit! Looking forward to seeing you again!
Margarita regular is sublime, amazin (New Yawk what?!) and possibly the best (better than mine), the Coconut Margarita is fantastic, but the pina colada virgin was as good as I ever had....until, I had another one, this time with rum for dessert!!! Apps: The chiveche or seafood salad is amazing, also among the beat evwr. Beef empanada is as good as it gets, on its own, the shrimp empanada is very good, the sauses are good, too,..wish they had the green sauce from Mama's in NYC...maybe not PR style... Main: holy crap... just have the full red snapper no matter what. Incroyable! Didnt love the churrasco, but, hey, "nobody's perfect."- see Some Like It Hot with Marilyn, if you don't get that reference. Love this place for the value. Love the food, drinks and staff! All of that makes up for the crazy, back-alley ambience, or maybe makes that lowered the bar a bit or made it more aproachable in price. read more
This is the best place we ate at in Puerto Rico. If you like seafood at all this is the spot to dine at! Usually it's hard for me to choose what to eat at a restaurant with a very large menu, this menu isn't that large however I still struggled because pretty much every single item sounded delicious. I think you can't go wrong. The staff is incredibly nice, our kids were being pretty rambunctious and they still made us feel welcome and a lot more comfortable eating there. Cant recommend enough! read more
8 months ago
Our first stop after we got to Puerto Rico and man, this was the best meal we had in Puerto Rico! This place is a must try! Their piñata colada was the best one we had. The fresh red snapper was so freaking good and so worth it! Highly recommend to get both of these dishes! The octopus salad had the right amount of acidity and it was a nice palate cleaner after eating the fried food. The calamari was delicious and you can taste rhe calamari! It wasn't chewy and tender! The mangfango ball was delicious. The fried cod, my god was the best cod I've ever had in my life. I've tried cod many times and had officially written it off as dense and dry. I wasn't not a fan of cod but after trying this cod, I am a super fan. It was soft and delicate. Juicy and not dry. Flaky and seasoned to perfection. The sauce that was topped on it made it a craveable bite that makes one not want to stop. It's so good! Just writing this review makes my mouth watery because this meal was 10/5! We talked to the staff and everything is caught fresh locally. Nothing was fishy and everything tasted really good! The shrimp my goodness we fought for the last bite hahaha The red snapper was crispy and so good with the garlic sauce! The red snapper was so good it converted a non eater of whole fish into a whole fish eater aka my significant other. I was so proud! The only thing I would say is red snapper was over fried a bit because some parts of the fish meat were a little dry but if you dip it in the sauce it was good. Red snapper is 1-1.5 lbs and about $40-$50 dollars ours was $45 : 5/5 Seafood platter : $36.95 octopus shrimp salad, fried calamari, fried cod, mangfango balls 5/5 Pina colada $10 5/5 the rum was hidden and pretty tasty! Best one I had! Rum punch $13 3/5 Do I recommend this place? Yes! It is pricey for both dish but it's well worth it! This is coming from a gal that was born and raise in the coast of TX with shrimping/oyster/fishing boats and ate seafood 24/7. This seafood is fresh and a must try when you are in Puerto Rico! It's relaxing and chill. Once you find parking then you can kick back and relax! Service is too notch and staff is super friendly! read more
9 months ago
Just left and had to write a review immediately! I love to try new places that offer whole snapper fish fries and this restaurant was just so good. It's in a group of small local restaurants with music playing from a bar next door (which was a nice vibe). The staff were wonderful, but the owner Leo was just exceptional. My daughter is celiac and he made sure to go cook her food for her and made her feel very comfortable eating there. Everything is scratch so you can eliminate items as needed. If you like rice and beans, this is the best I've had on the island and I've been many times. Go check this restaurant out. read more
6 months ago
I don't leave many 5 star reviews but this spot is top notch. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's a power play in the food scene. The customer service is friendly and great and the food was awesome. We did the Whole Red Snapper, the Skirt Steak, and Can Can Pork chop and washed t all down with some Coconut Margaritas. The food is delicious, all meticulously and carefully prepared and presented beautifully. This is definitely a must do when in the PR. read more
I have been coming here for years, and I can't say I've had a bad meal or service...ever! Freshest seafood in and around San Juan and the price is right for the amount of food you get! The restaurant is clean and updated, with cold AC! Great place to go and you won't be disappointed! read more
Business owner information
Leonardo B.
Great seeing you again Toby! See you soon.
4 months ago
8 months ago
We had a wonderful evening at Nuevo Acquario, made so special by the owner, Leonardo's. The fish was super fresh and the beans and rice best ever! You won't go wrong here. read more
9 months ago
Very friendly and attentive staff. Excellent food. They have both indoor and outdoor dining area. Highly recommend! read more
1 month ago
2 years ago
We had the seafood platter and the grouper. Portions are HUGE for the seafood platter - enough for two (full meal). Grouper was absolutely delicious (even though I'm not really a seafood person). I didn't try the platter but my wife was wolfing down the shrimp ceviche. Ambience inside is pretty plain (neat and clean though). Parking is VERY hard especially on a weekend. Be prepared to hunt for a spot. We came during a party right next door which seemed to slow down service just a bit. read more
9 months ago
9 months ago
This restaurant is a must....highly recommend! Excellent menu (loved everything we tried) from seafood to steak, delicious drinks and I can't say enough about the service---their goal is for every customer to leave with a smile! read more
6 months ago
Came here straight from the airport... They are under construction but the place is still nice and you don't even notice work going on. It's near a busy beach with lots of places to eat. Everyone is super nice and friendly. I had a passion fruit mojito. It was so yum Coconut shrimp was tasty as was the calamari. The dipping sauce with cinnamon was interesting but it worked. I had the mixed octopus and shrimp w mofongo. There was only 3 shrimp which was disappointing but the mofongo was amazing. My bf had creole chicken and beans and rice. I had a bite and it was delish. My mil had cilantro garlic chicken. That was even better. It was a little pricy but the flavors were phenomenal. . read more
El Nuevo Acuario is a must try if you visit San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's located in the Luisa area. It is currently being renovated but do not let that scare you from trying their food and drinks. It was a bit hard to find but nestled within the corner of the plaza with other restaurants and establishments in a shared lot. We were able to dine in for dinner inside where it was cool, but we were made aware that they will begin outdoor dining again soon right in time for summer. Our server Dove, was very friendly and hospitable giving a great overview of the menu and what we could expect from the drinks, appetizers and entrees. Dacha made our drinks and they were some of the best margaritas I've tried. The margaritas were not made with syrup and had fresh fruit. We tried blackberry, strawberry and passion fruit. Passion fruit was my favorite because the fresh fruit kept getting in the straw for the other flavors. Note: The menu said that these were $10, but the actual price was $14. I was also able to try a sample of the virgin pina colada and it was great, very sweet and fresh, perfect for a dessert. For my food choices, I ordered the firecracker grouper bites, a beef empanada, and the snapper (I ordered fried but received grilled) with beans and rice. The beans were made with so much love and seasoning and no pork/meat! It was very flavorful. The grilled snapper was my least favorite of the overall meal, but it was a superb experience nonetheless. The chef came over to check on us and ask about the meal also. I thought that was great service. The appetizers were spectacular. We finished the meal with tres leches cake and it was wonderfully made. This was our best meal from the Puerto Rico trip. Some other things to note: The ladies restroom is located outside of the indoor area where we dined inside, near the bar. It is away from the kitchen and at the first door on the left and the door faces the front of some bushes and other outdoor areas to other businesses. When in doubt, go together. It has one toilet and sink. There was a stray cat lingering around the patio/outside area of the restaurant. Ubers surge in this area after dark, so prepare accordingly if you are not driving yourself. Our ride there from the t-mobile district area was about $14, and the ride back tripled. Our server mentioned, that sometimes Uber surges or refuses to service the area after a certain time. Do what's best for you and makes you feel safe. read more
9 months ago
The service was great ..I had a great time. Food Was delicious and fresh. The Owner was very attentive and O, the waitress was sensational.. highly recommend... read more
5 months ago
Holy smokes, this place is delicious!! From the cocktails to the food, everything just blew us away! To start, we ordered the blackberry mojito and piña colada. My friend stated that the piña colada was the best she's ever had! I thoroughly enjoyed my mojito as well and it took all self control not to order a second. For entrees, we had the whole red snapper and coconut shrimp. Both were divine but the standout was the red snapper. They do a very light fry and use some sort of flavorful spice mix. It was absolute perfection. As a side, I chose rice and beans. It was a great combo! The service was great as well! Our waitress was friendly and offered great suggestions! We also appreciated that the owner came over to several tables and chatted with us for a few minutes. He's quite personable, funny, and appreciative of your business. The outdoor patio of the restaurant is under construction but looks to be pretty awesome once it's done! I would come back in a heartbeat! Also, there's a large parking lot but it was pretty full when we got there around 7:30/8ish as there's a few restaurants/bars that share it. We still found a spot and worst case scenario, you'll do a few loops til someone leaves. read more
Whenever I travel, I spend way too much time researching restaurants on Yelp. I may bookmark 50 places for a three day trip. El Nuevo Acuario stood out as the place I was most excited about based upon my research. I wasn't wrong. it's terrific. I don't often start reviews going on and on about the service. But the service at El Nuevo was top tier. It was a slower night because we visited off season. Our server was wonderful. She was joyful, genuine, helpful, friendly, efficient. Everything you would ever want in a server. Maybe the best service I've had all year. But that is only part of the story. I think the owner appreciated how excited we were to be there and that we love good food, and he decided to sit with us for while to talk about food and other things. He went way above and beyond and made us feel very special. The food was of course very good too. My wife ordered the paella dish, which would have been my order, but I have a thing about not ordering the same dish as someone, especially for a first visit like this. She let me try it and it was very good. I was hoping to order the Seafood Sampler (which looked great in pics) as an appetizer, but my wife and son wanted to go with the coconut shrimp. So I decided to order it as my dinner instead. In real life, it looked a lot bigger than it did in pics. It was huge. It had fried calamari, shrimp and octopus seafood salad, fried Mofongo Balls and Firecracker Grouper. The MVP of the plate was the acidic seafood salad. The shrimp and octopus were tasty and tender. And the acidity was exactly what was needed to balance the flavors of the rest of the dish. The Firecracker Grouper was one of the big draws for me because you don't often see Grouper in the Northeast US. It's a substantial fish and El Nuevo executed the textures and flavors well. The fried calamari was tender and great. I had Mofongo earlier in the day, so I just tried it and focused on the other parts of the platter. The Mofongo was good though. I wish I had a few different meals to explore more of the menu. El Nuevo Acuario really is a special place and I highly recommend you include it in your San Juan area dining plans. Also, Fun Fact -- it's located in a Food Park area which would be fun to explore as well. Five Enthusiastic Stars. read more
9 months ago
Don't be off put by the location. This restaurant was a tad hard to find as it's nestled among other restaurants in a local plaza. Food was fantastic and worth the exploring! Service was great. Staff was friendly, inviting, and attentive. The restaurant was clean and well kept. We got the pork chop with rice and beans. Portion was large and rice/beans were yummy. We also got a friend snapper. Fish was a good size, lots of meat, well cooked, very very tasty! read more
9 months ago
8 months ago
Absolutely amazing stop near the airport. Great food. Great service. Firecracker grouper is phenomenal!! Also had the Whole Red Snapper and the Seafood Rice. Both were so so good. Highly recommend!!! read more
1 year ago
10 months ago
4 months ago
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1 year ago
Hey guys believe me I had the best meal at this place. It was delicious, tasty. Like I'll come back for sure. Leo was the best and the lady who took our order was so nice when recommending us this, she did not disappoint . It's hot, I was outside and ended up sitting inside. read more
Hard to notice as sign is quite faded when you pull into the parking lot. There's several restaurants and shops surrounding the area so you may not notice it. There's not a lot I didn't like about this place. The service was impeccable and friendly. The food was delicious (albeit expensive). The sauces we got with our seafood sampler platter were all excellent compliments. Personally I would just skip the platter since it's so big and just go with the grouper fish (you'll thank me) the lobster was well cooked and succulent with delicious buttery and seafood flavour. If I had to be extra picky, I'd give it a 4.5 just because it's outdoors and the heat and humidity could make it difficult to enjoy your food. The strawberry mojitos was just average but felt like it had double rum since I got drunk off it pretty fast lol. read more
9 months ago
9 months ago
Located in Loíza, our Lyft driver didn't know where we were going when we arrived. It's a linen napkin spot surrounded by open air eateries and street food spots. The server had a hard time keeping our order straight but we ended up happy with the mistakes. My sister had the snapper and I had the chuleta kan kan. It was a little dryer than I would like but delicious nonetheless. It's so close to the ocean, I definitely recommend getting seafood! read more
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More info about El Nuevo Acuario
Carretera 187 KM 40
Punta Cangrejo, Puerto Rico 00772
Directions
(787) 662-8258
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https://elnuevoacuariorestaurant.com
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